NEW DELHI: Residents of Maine had to remain locked inside their homes for the second consecutive night as law enforcement agencies launched an extensive search for Robert Card, the man believed to be responsible for the worst mass shooting in the state’s history which claimed 18 lives at a bowling alley and a bar.
According to an AP report, much of Thursday’s efforts centered on a property owned by one of Card’s relatives in rural Bowdoin, where numerous heavily armed police and FBI agents surrounded a home.They repeatedly ordered Card, if present, to surrender, an uncommon approach in executing warrants for violent crime suspects.
As the FBI raided the suspect’s home, a suicide note was found from Card, addressed to his son, per ABC News. It is unclear at this time what the note exactly said.
The tragic events unfolded as Card allegedly opened fire with at least one rifle at a bar and a bowling alley in Lewiston, located about 15 miles from Bowdoin, Maine’s second-largest city. These shootings resulted in 18 deaths and 13 injuries, with three individuals still in critical condition.
According to AP, while authorities didn’t disclose the specifics of the firearms used or their source, the impact of the incident rippled through communities, leading to the closure of schools, doctor’s offices, grocery stores, and residents staying behind locked doors, even in cities up to 50 miles from the scenes of the shootings.
The state’s largest city, Portland, shut down public buildings, and the Canada Border Services Agency issued an “armed and dangerous” alert to its officers stationed along the US border. Streets in Lewiston and neighboring communities were deserted, and schools remained closed.
As the hunt for Card continued, personal details and concerning behavior emerged. Card had undergone a mental health evaluation in mid-July after displaying erratic conduct while with his reserve regiment, according to a US official, AP reported.
The shootings were particularly shocking in a state with one of the country’s lowest homicide rates, where incidents like this are exceedingly rare. Maine Governor Janet Mills pledged to find Card and hold those responsible accountable, vowing to seek justice for the victims and their families.
Maine’s gun ownership culture, with a lack of permit requirements, has traditionally been tied to hunting and sport shooting. Although a “yellow flag” law was passed in 2019, it was considered by some as a weaker version of “red flag” laws present in other states, which allow authorities to intervene in cases of suspected danger.
As the search continued and authorities issued eight murder warrants, Maine State Police Colonel William Ross indicated that more warrants would likely be issued once the remaining victims’ names were confirmed.
In an era marked by frequent mass shootings, the hunt for Card stood out, as he remained at large more than a day after the shootings. The community remained on edge, as residents heeded warnings to stay behind locked doors and maintain a vigilant stance.
These tragic shootings added to the ongoing tally of mass killings in the United States this year, marking the 36th incident, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.